Chapter 28: The Cost of Beginning

Chapter 28: Chapter 28: The Cost of Beginning

Ethan stood quietly before the stall. The three manuals remained where they had been all afternoon. The old woman sat behind the table, sipping her tea without hurry. Around them, the hidden market continued as usual. People came and went, deals were made and coins changed hands. No one seemed concerned with Ethan’s decision except Ethan himself.

His eyes settled on the worn cover of the Evergreen Breath Method once more. The comparison was already finished. The choice had been made. What remained was the price.

Five silver.

Almost everything he had. Ethan rested a hand on the travel journal beneath his arm. For a long moment, he said nothing. Then he looked at the old woman.

"Five silver is a lot for a foundation manual."

The old woman raised an eyebrow.

"It is."

"You don’t lower the price?"

"No."

Her answer came so quickly that Ethan almost laughed. At least she was honest. Most sellers would have pretended to think about it. The old woman took another sip of tea.

"You’re free to buy one of the others."

Ethan glanced toward the Steady River Foundation Method. Two silver, a safer choice for his purse. Then toward the Stone Body Foundation Method. Four silver, still expensive, but easier to accept. Neither felt right.

The old woman noticed his gaze.

"You’ve already decided."

"Maybe."

"You have."

Ethan smiled faintly. She was becoming difficult to argue with. She set down her cup.

"The question isn’t whether you want that manual."

She pointed at the Evergreen Breath Method.

"The question is whether you’re afraid of becoming poor."

Ethan thought about that, then he shook his head.

"No."

The old woman waited.

"I’m afraid of making a foolish decision."

The old woman studied him for a moment, then gave a small nod.

"Good answer."

Silence settled between them again. Ethan opened the manual one last time. He carefully reviewed several pages. Breathing instructions, foundation theory, Qi circulation. Everything remained clear. Nothing looked exaggerated, nothing promised miracles.

It was exactly what the traveler had described. A foundation, nothing more and nothing less.

After a few more minutes, Ethan closed the manual. His decision was finally made. He reached into his pouch. The sound of silver coins touching wood was surprisingly loud.

Five silver.

Months of savings, gone in a single moment. The old woman picked the coins, then she pushed the manual toward him.

"Take care of it."

Ethan picked it up. The book felt heavier than before, not because of its weight. Because it now belonged to him. His first step into cultivation sat in his hands.

The old woman watched him place it carefully into his bag. Then she spoke again.

"Do you have a place to stay?"

Ethan paused.

"No."

"A source of income?"

"No."

"Any cultivation resources?"

"No."

The old woman nodded as though confirming something she already knew.

"Then you’re poorer than you think."

Ethan could not argue with that. The old woman pointed toward the market around them.

"Most beginners believe buying a manual is the difficult part."

"It isn’t?"

"No."

She leaned back in her chair.

"Keeping yourself alive long enough to use it is the difficult part."

Ethan stored those words away. The more he learned about cultivation, the more poorer he felt and the more expensive it seemed.

The manual was only the beginning. Food cost money, lodging cost money, future resources would cost even more. His remaining silver suddenly felt much smaller.

"Any advice?" Ethan asked.

The old woman looked at him.

"You have a journal."

Ethan blinked.

"Yes."

"I noticed."

She pointed toward it.

"Most people wander through the market looking for opportunities."

"And?"

"You write things down."

Ethan remained silent. The old woman smiled slightly.

"People who pay attention usually find work faster than people who don’t."

That was all she said. No explanation, no details. Just another piece of advice. Whether it was useful or not remained to be seen.

After thanking her, Ethan stepped away from the stall. The manual rested securely inside his bag. For a while, he simply walked through the market. This time he looked at things differently. Not as a visitor, not as someone searching for a path. Now he was someone who had already spent most of his money.

The herb stalls caught his attention again. So did the ore merchants. The talisman sellers. The traders buying strange materials from hunters and travelers.

Money moved constantly through the market. Which meant opportunities existed somewhere inside it. The problem was finding one.

As Ethan passed another stall, he noticed a handwritten notice hanging from a wooden post. Several people were gathered around it. Curious, he moved closer. The notice listed simple requests.

Collecting herbs.

Delivering packages.

Escorting merchants between nearby towns.

None paid much.

But they paid something. Ethan studied the list carefully. A few days ago, he would have walked past without interest. Now, every copper coin mattered. His gaze lingered on one particular request, then another. Slowly, a new problem began taking shape in his mind.

The manual had been purchased. The path had been chosen, but cultivation would have to wait.

First, he needed a way to keep moving forward. And that meant earning his next silver coin.